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Project Wait No Longer Plus (PWNL+)

Finding Permanent Families for Youth Who Cannot Wait

A specialized family recruitment initiative focused on older children and youth with complex needs who require unique families and intentional advocacy.

What Is PWNL+?

Project Wait No Longer (PWNL) has always focused on older youth in foster care. PWNL+ is an expansion of that mission.

PWNL+ partners with government agencies across the United States to identify youth whose cases require highly targeted, specialized recruitment efforts. These are young people who:

Have significant medical or developmental needs

Require lifelong or long-term support

Need families prepared to advocate across medical, educational, and disability systems
Are at risk of aging out without permanency

In many cases, the difference between finding a family and not finding one changes the entire course of their life.

Why PWNL+ Exists

Some children are not matched through traditional recruitment. Not because they are not worthy. But because their needs require:

Experienced parents

Home accessibility

Medical confidence

Long-term planning

Fierce advocacy

PWNL+ is designed to intentionally recruit those families.

Who We Are Looking For PWNL+ families are:

Experienced special needs parents

Medical or therapy professionals

Parents familiar with IEP advocacy

Families comfortable navigating DDA or Medicaid systems

Individuals who understand lifelong commitment
Emotionally steady and trauma-informed

Whether you’re a single parent or married couples–all family types are welcome. The common thread is commitment, compassion, and care.

What Makes PWNL+ Different

PWNL+ provides:

Individualized child-specific recruitment campaigns
Ongoing post-placement support

We do not simply list waiting children. We actively recruit families on their behalf and in their interests.

The Commitment

Youth in PWNL+ often:

Will not live independently as adults

Require surgeries or complex medical follow-up

Need ongoing therapy and case management
Require lifetime advocacy

This work is serious and worth every effort because of the joy we’ve witnessed in permanency .

Financial Accessibility & Support

We understand that families considering PWNL+ may have questions about financial requirements.

Our goal is to recruit families who are emotionally, physically, and practically prepared to meet the needs of children with complex medical or developmental profiles.

To make this program accessible:

Most program fees are covered by the placing agency.
Families generally spend less than $500 in administrative costs to complete approval.
Post-placement adoption subsidies are typically available to help offset the ongoing cost of care.

While financial assistance helps reduce barriers, families must still be prepared to provide stable housing, meet daily needs, and advocate for medical and educational services.

We are committed to ensuring that cost is not the reason a qualified family steps back.

See Waiting Children

Meet a Child Waiting for a Family

Each child featured in PWNL+ has been identified as needing specialized recruitment and a uniquely prepared family.

If you are an experienced parent who feels called to learn more, or know of someone else that is a fit, we invite you to explore their stories and share this program.

Start the Conversation

If you believe you may be a fit for a PWNL+ child, or you know someone else who may be, please schedule a confidential consultation with our team to discuss next steps, or consider sharing this information.